The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1887-10-28

asked the sweet voice again-a voice that
seemed to draw the heart out of me like
the strains of softest music. lsthere that
about me thatshould alright a man? Then
surely are men changed from what they
used to be." And with a little coquettish
movement, she turned herself, md held
up arm, so as to show all her lowell
ness, and the rich hair of raven blackness
that streamed in soft ripples down her
snowy robes, almost to her sandaled feet.
ut is thy beauty that makes me fear, oh,
queen," I answered, humbly scarcely
knowing what to say, and l thought that
as l did so l heard old Billali, who was
still lying PROSTATE on the floor, muttcr,
Good. my Balloon, good"
81 see that men still know how obcguile
Us women with false words. All, stran-
gcr,'' she answered., with q laugh that
sounded like distant silver bells, "thou
vast afraid because mine eyes were search
ing out thine heart, therefore vast thou
afraid. But being but q woman, I forgive
thee for the lie, for it was courteouslysaid.
And now tell me how came ye hither on
this land of the jewellers among caves-a
land Of swamps and evil things and dead
old shadows of the past. What came ye
for to sect How is it that ye hold your
lives so cheap as to place them in the hol-
low of the hand of Iiiya, into the hand of
Shc-Cho-must-bc-obcyed? Tell me also
how come ye to know the tongue that l
talk? 1t is an ancient tongue. Iiveth it
yctint the world. Thou scest Idwcll among
the and the dead, and naught know
l of the affairs of men, nor have 1 cared to
know. have lived, oh stranger, with my
memories, and my memories are in a grave
that mine own hands followed, for truly
hath it been said that the child of man
maketh his own path evil." and the bcauti-
full voice quivered, and broke in a note as
soft rs any wood birds.
Suddenly her eye fell upon the sprawling
frame of Billali, and she seemed to recol-
lect herself.
"Ah! thou art there. old man. Tell me
how it is that things have gone wrong in
thine household. Forsooth, it seems that
these my guests were set upon. Ay, and
n was nigh to being slain by the hot pot
to be eaten of those brutes thy children,
and had not the others fought CALAMITY
they too had been slain, and not even I
could have called back the life that had
looscd from the body. What means 1t, old
man? What hast thou to say that l should
not give thee over to those whoexecute my
vengcance!"
Her voice had risen In her anger, and it
rang clear and cold against the rocky walls.
Also I thought I could see her eyes flash
through the gauze that hid them. I saw
poor Billali, whom l had believed to be a
very fearless person, positively culver with
terror at her words.
"Oh, Hiya; oh She" he said, without
lifting his white head from the tloor-"oh,
She. as thou art great. be merc;ful. for l
am 10 as ver thy servant to obey.
was no plan or fault of mine, oh, She;
was those wicked ones who are called my
children. Led on by a oma whom thy
guest the Pig had scorned, they would
have followed the ancient custom Of the
land, and eaten the fat black stranger who
came l.ithcr with these thy guests, the Ba-
boon, and the Lion who is sick, thinking
that no word had come from thee about
the black one. But when the Balloon md
the Lion saw what they would do, they
slew the woman, and slew also their ser.
want to save him from the horror of the
pot. Then those evil ones-ay, those child.
ren of the Wicked One who lives in the
Pit-they went mad with the lust of blood,
and flew at the threats of the Lion and the
Balloon and the Pig. But CALAMITY they
fought, oh, Hiya, they fought like very
men, md slew many, and held their own,
and then 1 came and saved them, and the
evil-docrs have l sent on hithcr to be
judged of thy greatness. Oh. She, and here
they are" -
GAY, old man., know j. and tomorrow
will 1 sit in the great hall and do justice
upon them. fear not. And for thee, l for
give thee, though hardly. Sec that thou
dost keep thine household better. Co."
! Billali rose upon his knees with aston,
ishlng aiacrity, MS neau tnrlce, MI
white beard sweeping the ground, and
crawled down the apartment as he had
crawlcd up it, till he finally vanished